Overcoming Anxiety and PTSD

I had an experience while on overseas study a few years back, which thereafter triggered a physical reaction when I perceive to be losing control of myself. While initially manageable while studying, the reaction intensified during stressful situations upon entering the workforce. The reaction resulted in me showing avoidance behaviour towards cars and buses and it worsened over time.

Not wishing to continue life like this and all the more not understanding why I was exhibiting such behaviour, I sought counselling and found SCC. On my first visit, I was in tears as the act of seeking counselling was a huge step for me. My counsellor requested for me to take a series of tests and confirmed that I was of an anxious disposition due to personality and even familial upbringing and I was also exhibiting signs of trauma.

Subsequent sessions with my counsellor saw me desensitising myself to the experience of being in a moving vehicle through changing my negative perception of cars. The first few sessions saw me watching a video of traveling in a car to, after a few months, travelling in a car for short periods and then extending the travel duration to over an hour. My counsellor also equipped me coping mechanisms with breathing techniques and self-coping statements that I could meditate over if I ever had negative thoughts while travelling in a car.

The first few sessions were not easy as I had to identify and acknowledge my fear and it was amazing how normalised I became to cars after a while. What I found useful about the sessions was not just the journey of walking through overcoming my trauma, but I learnt a lot about self-care. I am now a lot more aware that upkeeping a healthy lifestyle and finding ways to relax is so important for mental health. Compared to the person who first stepped into the centre, I am now a happier and more thankful person. My self-esteem has improved so much. I am truly glad to have made the decision to finally face my fear.

– Client C, 2018

What I found useful about the sessions was not just the journey of walking through overcoming my trauma, but I learnt a lot about self-care. I am now a lot more aware that upkeeping a healthy lifestyle and finding ways to relax is so important for mental health.

Compared to the person who first stepped into the centre, I am now a happier and more thankful person. My self-esteem has improved so much. I am truly glad to have made the decision to finally face my fear.

Rather than tiding it over and leaving things to chance, we decided to seek professional help through marriage counseling.

https://scc.sg/e/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pink-trees.jpg7451122charissachewhttps://scc.sg/e/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Singapore-Counselling-Centre-Logo_Counselling-Services_3-300x215-300x215.jpgcharissachew2019-09-10 10:01:132019-09-10 10:02:49[Testimonial] Working Together in Restoring a Marriage

He played an important role of a neutral party as he listened to our grievances and sorrows. I feel that a neutral party plays an important role in allowing us to share each other's viewpoints without getting into a heated dispute.

He has taught me so many things for the past one year like emotional intelligence, how to deal with social anxiety, how to not live in the past and how to think positively in life by doing it step by step.

Anxiety was a staple in my life once upon a time. I tried all sorts of self-coping techniques but they did not seem to work so I just wanted to give up. However, I told myself that I would give counselling a try before that and so I met Joseph.

Joseph gave in his 200% effort in helping us, and the effort went a long way in helping both of us work through our traumas, both separately and collectively. Working with Joseph really gave us the internal strength to continue on, and for us to even consider taking our relationship to the next step.

These sessions have always been my favourite part of the week. I'm not sure what I am going to do without you, you've been my best friend, my biggest supporter and saw something special in me. Thank you.

I walked into the room for my first session with Joseph as a unbalanced and volatile individual who had witnessed his wife cheating on him, and I walked out 6 months later as a composed and mentally enlightened individual.